Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-12-24
IN CALIFORNIA.


A Visit to the Mission at Santa Barbara.
1t makes little difference how one
enters the Santa Barbara Valley, for
the Mission which overlooks it is the
first object that attracts attention. 1t
occupies an elevated site at the head
of the valley, and is clearly outlined
against a background of hills. The
church was begun in 1886, and again
in 1914, it was nearly destroyed by
earthquakes. 1t was intended by fa-
Their Junipero Sierra to build the Santa
Barbara Mission long before it was
really begun, but he died before doing
more than selecting its location and
consecrating the ground. From 1922
until 1888, when the act Of seculariza-
ton was passed, the building was the
center of great wealth and power.
The fathers were temporal as well as
spiritual rulers Of the land, and their
church was the best and largest in
California. The walls were Of stone,
six feet thick, and plastered with
adobe; the roof was covered with
bright red tiles, and in the towers was
hung a trio of Spanish bells. In the
rear of the Mission the fathers had
their garden "a shrub-grown half I
acre, completely isolated from the out
side world. From the west 10 =
long l. extended at right angles to the
body Of the church, and facing this
was an open corridor. The Indian
converts lived in huts, and the fathers
raised large quantities OF grapes and
olives. When war vas made upon
the Franciscans, the Santa Barbara
brothers were the only ones who dared
remain at their posts. That they did.
$50 is due the excellent preservation OF
the old building. Time has changed
it somewhat, to DO sure. but has mel
lowed and softened rather than de-
stroyed. The stone steps leading to
the facade are cracked and moss-
grown; only one of the original six
fountains is left; the Indian cabins
have disappeared. Afew Franciscans,
shaven, and dressed in long coarse
robes girded at the waists, still in-
habit the bare narrow cells, and loiter
about the corridors and garden, and
regular service continues to be held. . $.
There was a decidedly musty smell
TO the church, and both the visitors
spoke in whispers. Edith's guide
showed her all the paintings. and gave
the history of each-who this was done
by and when, how it came to Santa
Barbara, and other facts of interest.
just beyond tie choir were W small
chapcls, each with its altar pictures
and ornaments, and II few steps from
that on the right OF the nave the father
stopped before IA high double doorway,
and began unlocking the heavy doors.
When he had thrown them open he
nracenI hin,gulc aud lontinr fhn UNIV r.
asked Edith to follow. Doing so, she
found herself in n walled enclosure
with rank grasses and rose
bushes. Above the doorway Edith
saw three whitened skulls set in the
wall, while under the caves of the
church, which projected upon thick
buttresses, the swallows were ii ttering
back and forth from their nests of sun
baked mud.
This is II cemetery, senorita,"
said the father. ut last.
"Are the skulls real, father" asked
Edith.
Eyes. child"
"And are many people buried herep"
y yes. very many. We do not.
, use it now. There is not room, to tell
the truth. You need not dig deep to
find skulls and bones in here"
1t was not n pleasant thought to
Edith to feel that she was walking
over the last resting-place of she knew
not how many pious fathers and In
dams. 1t was very quiet. A high
wall completely hid the road to Mis-
sion Canon, and on the west was the
church, above which rose the towers.
There were several vaults, and each
lad its wooden cross and vines. Doves
were cooling on the caves, and the
swaltows chatted necessarily.
On leaving the cemetery the father
and Edith returned to the church, and
passed up the long nave to the altar,
which was covered with a snowy cloth,
and decorated with tall candle-sticks
and other ornaments. Behind il, fill.
ing the end OF the room, was a wooden
reredos, deliberately carved, and hav-
ing fine life-sized colored statues be-
fore each panel. On either side of the
: altar, set on white pillars, were two
] other statues, and between them was
. a large cross. with tie Christ upon it.
To the right Edith noticed a curiously
: shaped hat hanging upon the wall.
: which was covered with dust.
ut belonged to Garcia San Diego,th
. first Bishop of California said the ia
:; Their, when he saw Edith looking at it.
! s.His body is cntombed here, as the
tablet says. He was a patient worker
and IL godly man. Would ! could be
Il be buried here, in the very walls OF the
! church | scrve!'-EdWards Roberts, IN
Harper'S Magazine.
An EVample Worth EOlloyyiup